Calibrachoa plant named ‘BBCAL99001’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘BBCAL99001’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; early and freely flowering habit; rose pink-colored flowers with bright yellow-colored star-shaped central pattern; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBCAL99001’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘BBCAL99001’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new uniform and freely-branchingCalibrachoa plants with unique and attractive flower colors and patternsand good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. on Sep. 25, 2017 of a proprietaryseedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number17CB192-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as codenumber 17CB203-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newCalibrachoa plant was discovered and first selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall,Calif. on Jun. 15, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. sinceJun. 19, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BBCAL99001’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BBCAL99001’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to        eventually trailing plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Rose pink-colored flowers with bright yellow-colored        star-shaped central pattern.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more outwardly spreading        than and not as upright as plants of the female parent        selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as flowers of plants of the new        Calibrachoa are rose pink in color with bright yellow-colored        star-shaped central pattern whereas flowers of plants of the        female parent selection are red in color.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have good garden performance        whereas plants of the female parent selection have poor garden        performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more outwardly spreading        than and not as upright as plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as flowers of plants of the new        Calibrachoa are rose pink in color with bright yellow-colored        star-shaped central pattern whereas flowers of plants of the        male parent selection are orange in color with yellow-colored        centers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of theCalibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI11’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,968. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘USCALI11’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more outwardly spreading        than and not as upright as plants of ‘USCALI11’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI11’ differ in flower        color as flowers of plants of the new Calibrachoa are rose pink        in color with bright yellow-colored star-shaped central pattern        whereas flowers of plants of ‘USCALI11’ are light red purple in        color.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of theCalibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI51’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,874. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘USCALI51’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more outwardly spreading        than and not as upright as plants of ‘USCALI51’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI51’ differ in flower        color as flowers of plants of the new Calibrachoa are rose pink        in color with bright yellow-colored star-shaped central pattern        whereas flowers of plants of ‘USCALI11’ are violet in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘BBCAL99001’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘BBCAL99001’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in10.8-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Loudon N.H. andunder cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production.During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures rangedfrom 19° C. to 21° C. Plants were pinched three weeks after planting andwere 15 weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘BBCAL99001’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 17CB192-01, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 17C203-01, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven to ten days at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About four to five            weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About five to six            weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly            spreading and mounding to trailing plant habit; moderately            vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; freely            branching habit with about four to five primary lateral            branches and secondary branches potentially developing at            every node; dense and bushy appearance.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 9 cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 10            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 30 cm by 34 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 17 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.1 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong, flexible and sturdy.        -   Aspect.—About 45° to 80° from stem axis.        -   Texture and luster.—Minute pubescence; slightly glossy.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 144A.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,            opposite; leaves simple.        -   Length.—About 3.5 cm to 4 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.8 cm to 2.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical to obovate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute to rounded.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparse and            minute pubescence, pubescence mostly along midvein and            margins; slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A;            venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 7 mm to 9 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm            by 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong, flexible. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Minute pubescence;            slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with            typically about 135 flowers and flower buds developing per            plant at one time; flowers face slightly upright to            outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa            begin flowering about six to eight weeks after planting;            plants flower continuously from the spring though the summer            until frost.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to five            days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower buds, before showing color.—Length: About 7 mm to            9 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture            and luster: Minute pubescence; slightly glossy. Color: Close            to 144A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 5 mm by 6.5 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter at the base.—About 1.5 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five fused petals opening into a            flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from throat): About 1 cm.            Petal lobe width: About 1.1 cm. Petal shape: Spatulate.            Petal apex: Obtuse to slightly emarginate; recurving with            development. Petal margin: Entire; slightly moderately            undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous, velvety; slightly glossy. Petal texture and            luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.            Throat texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly            glossy. Tube texture and luster: Minute pubescence; slightly            glossy. Color: Petal lobe, when opening and fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 63A; towards the base, close to 12A            to 12B; midvein, close to 53A to 53B; color does not change            with development. Petal lobe, when opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 63D; midvein, close to 144A; color            does not change with development. Throat: Close to 12A,            yellow color fusing distally; venation, close to 12A. Tube:            Close to 144A to 144B; venation, close to 144A to 144B.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals fused towards the base and arranged in a single            whorl; sepals flaring outwardly and reflexing towards the            apex. Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.2 cm. Sepal            length: About 1.5 cm. Sepal width: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Sepal            shape: Linear to ligulate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin:            Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Minute pubescence; slightly glossy. Sepal color, when            developing, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A. Sepal            color, developed, upper surface: Close to 146A. Sepal color,            developed, lower surface: Close to 146B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.25 mm.            Angle: About 45° to 55° from stem axis. Strength: Strong,            wiry and flexible. Texture and luster: Minute pubescence;            slightly glossy. Color: Close to 146B to 146C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.            Filament length: About 7 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C            to 145D. Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape:            Round. Anther color: Close to 8B to 8C. Pollen amount:            Scarce to moderate. Pollen color: Close to 8B. Pistils:            Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Style            length: About 8 mm. Style color: Close to 144D. Stigma            diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color:            Close to 144A to 144B. Ovary color: Close to 144A to 144B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and to be    suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Calibrachoa    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common    to Calibrachoa plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named‘BBCAL99001’ as illustrated and described.